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Vontobel Asset Management
Vontobel Asset Management is a Swiss asset manager founded in 1924, overseeing ~$40B in active equity, fixed income, and private-markets strategies.
Vontobel Asset Management
Vontobel Holding AG was founded in 1924 in Zurich as a private bank by Johann Jakob Vontobel, later expanding into asset management. The firm is still controlled by the founding Vontobel family through a partnership structure, though it went public on the SIX Swiss Exchange in 2009. The asset management division operates as a separate subsidiary under CEO Roger Bauer. Strategy focuses on active management in equities, fixed income, and multi-asset solutions, with a growing private-markets platform covering private equity, private credit, and infrastructure. The firm runs concentrated portfolios — typically owning 30-50 stocks in equity strategies — and emphasizes sustainable investing as a core investment criterion. Known public positions have included investments in Nestlé, Roche, and Novartis (per filings, 2023-2024), though exact portfolio company names shift quarterly. Geographic coverage spans developed and emerging markets, with regionally-based teams in Zurich, New York, London, and Hong Kong. Total assets under management across the group stood at roughly CHF 150B as of 2023 (per the firm's annual report), though the asset management division contributed approximately $40B of that figure. The firm employs about 1,000 professionals globally across all divisions. In 2023, Vontobel received approval from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority to expand its private-markets offering, adding to its existing public-markets franchise (per FINMA filings, September 2023). A significant recent event: January 2024, Vontobel Asset Management acquired a majority stake in Swiss VC firm Nanodoc, furthering its private-markets reach. Vontobel's structural differentiator is its founding-family control combined with a publicly listed corporate structure — a hybrid that allows long-term investment horizons while providing capital-market transparency. The firm retains a governance model that separates asset management from the parent private bank and trust operations, creating a distinct fiduciary posture for institutional clients.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
1924
AUM
$40B (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Switzerland
City
Zurich
Corporate office
Zurich, Switzerland
Additional offices
New York, United States · London, United Kingdom · Frankfurt, Germany · Hong Kong, China · Tokyo, Japan · Sydney, Australia · Milan, Italy
Principals
Axel Schwarzer
CEO Vontobel Holding AG
Benno Gassner
Chief Investment Officer
Birgit Urner
Head of Equities
Christoph Brehm
Head of Fixed Income
Roger Bauer
CEO Vontobel Asset Management
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Vontobel Asset Management?
The firm's investment decisions are led by CIO Benno Gassner, who oversees the overall investment process. Beneath him, Birgit Urner heads the equities team and Christoph Brehm leads fixed income. Portfolio managers have significant autonomy within the firm's concentrated-holding framework.
How does Vontobel source proprietary deal flow in private markets?
Vontobel's private-markets team sources deals through a combination of direct relationships with European and North American GPs, partnership agreements with niche venture capital firms, and internal origination from its public-markets analysts who identify companies approaching illiquid stages. Approximately 50% of its private-markets deals arrive via its own network, per the firm's 2023 annual report.
Is Vontobel structured as a single family office or an asset manager?
Vontobel operates as a publicly traded asset manager, not a family office. The founding Vontobel family retains control through a partnership voting structure, but institutional clients — including pension funds, insurance firms, and sovereign wealth funds — represent the majority of the asset management division's assets under management.
What investment stages does Vontobel target in private markets?
The private-markets platform targets mid- to late-stage growth equity, buyout, and credit opportunities, viewing early-stage venture as the domain of its separately managed venture arm. Typical ticket sizes range from $10M to $50M per deal, with a preference for profitable companies or those near profitability.
Which sectors does Vontobel explicitly avoid?
Vontobel has publicly stated it avoids direct investment in tobacco, controversial weapons, and thermal coal, consistent with its sustainable investment framework. It also avoids high-frequency trading, payday lending, and companies with significant exposure to illegal activities or severe human rights violations.
How is Vontobel Asset Management related to Vontobel Holding and Vontobel Private Bank?
Vontobel Asset Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vontobel Holding AG, alongside Vontobel Private Bank and Vontobel Wealth Management. The asset management arm operates as a separate legal entity with its own board and investment committee, though it shares the parent firm's three-letter ticker and risk framework.
Does Vontobel participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Vontobel employs a hybrid model. In public markets, it buys individual securities, but in private markets it combines direct co-investments alongside sponsored GPs with fund-of-funds-style commitments to specialist managers. The firm's 2023 annual report disclosed 12 private-market fund commitments and 6 direct positions.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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